Flight operations were grounded on Wednesday at the Port Harcourt International Airport following a protest by some residents of Ipo and Omagwa communities in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The protesters all dressed in black blocked the airport roundabout gate which leads into the complex even as they brandished placards with various inscriptions some of which read: ‘What is our offence?’ ‘Over Seven Years of No NEPA Light’, ‘No single access to mobile network’, ‘No good access roads within Ipo community’, among others.

The situation disrupted flights within the airport for about two to three hours.

A source inside the airport revealed that, “While arrivals weren’t affected, flights couldn’t depart because the passengers were prevented from getting into the airport itself. The disruption lasted till about 8 am after which the gates were opened.”

Amid the commotion, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of traditional rulers, Sergeant Awuse, addressed the women and promised them that he would personally come with the airport management team to see to the improvement and development of their community.

He further requested the airport manager set up a team made up of members of the airport management to join him in the community on Friday. Afterwards, the protesters withdrew and opened the gates to the airport.